Lesson 4. “My Own True family” by Ted Hughes.
I met an old man there. (Change the voice) – An old woman was met by me there.
She opened up her little bag and I came twice awake. (Use as soon as/ Use No sooner……..than) – No sooner did she open up her little bag than I came twice awake.
I was looking for a stag. (Change the voice) – A stag was being looked for by me.
We are chopped down. (Change the voice) – They/you chop down us.
She said, “I have your secret here inside my little bag”(Change the speech) – She said that she had his secret there inside her little bag.
I was surrounded by a staring tribe. (Complex) – A staring tribe surrounded me.
She began to cackle and I began to quake. (Complex) – She began to cackle while/as I began to quake.
They said, “We are the oak trees and your true family”(Change the speech) – They said that they were the oak trees and his true family.
Unless you make a promise, you are going to die. (Negative/ Compound) – Negative = You are going to die if you don’t make a promise. Compound = You make a promise or you are going to die.
We are torn up. (Voice) – You/they tear us up.
You see an oak tree felled. Swear now you will plant two. (Complex) – Swear now you will plant two whenever you see an oak tree felled.
You do not blink an Eye. (Interrogative) – Do you blink an eye?
The dream altered me. (Voice) – I was altered by the dream.
This was my dream. I had a dream beneath the boughs. (Simple/ Complex) – Simple = This was my dream beneath the boughs. Complex = This was my dream that I had beneath the boughs.
My walk was the walk of a human child but my heart was a tree. (Complex) – Though my walk was the walk of a human child my heart was a tree.
Lesson 6. “Sea Fever” by John Masefield.
Do as directed:
All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. (Complex/ Negative) – Complex = All that I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. Negative = I ask nothing but a tall ship and a star to steer her by.
I must go down to the seas again. I want to pursue the vagrant gypsy life. (Simple) – I must go down to the seas again to pursue the vagrant gypsy life.
I must go down to the seas again. I desire to go to the lonely sea and the sky. (Join using infinitive/ Simple) – I must go down to the seas again to go to the lonely sea and the sky.
The call of the running tide is a wild call and clear call. It may not be denied. (Complex) – The call of the running tide which may not be denied is wild and clear.
I must go down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life. (Split into two simple sentences) – I must go down to the seas again. I must do it to lead a life of a vagrant gypsy.
All I ask is a merry yarn from a hanging fellow-rover. (Negative) – I ask nothing but a merry yarn from a hanging fellow-rover.
Lesson 8. “The Snail” by William Cowper.
Give his horns a slightest touch. He shrinks into his house. (Complex/ Compound) – Complex = He shrinks into his house if you give his horns a slightest touch. Compound = You give his horns a slightest touch and he will shrink into his house.
He dwells alone. (Negative/ Complex) – Negative = He dwells with no one. /He does not dwell with any one. Complex = There is no one who he dwells with.
Danger imminent besides of storm. Then he hides within that secure house. (Complex/Compound) – Complex = He hides within that secure house when danger imminent besides of storm. Compound = Danger is imminent besides of storm and he hides within that secure house.
Except himself, he has chattels none. (Interrogative) – Who has he chattels except himself?
Within the house secure he hides. (Use Noun form of the word in bold letters) – He hides within the security of the house.
He feels much displeasure. He shrinks into his house. (Simple/ Complex) – Simple = feeling much displeasure he shrinks into his house. Complex = He shrinks into his house when he feels much displeasure